Yesterday evening (16.12.03) on TRT3 again there was word about the so called south- east problem in Turkey, which, concerning Baykal, the leader of the opposite party, was addressed in a wrong fashion by the prime minister, Tayyip Erdogan, when he was visiting the European Summit. What was said by Tayyip Erdogan was that there are still things to be done to make life better for the people living in the region. But having said so he relativated right after by saying that as well in ohter parts of Turkey many things have to be done to provide better living conditions for the people.

In the Huerriyet newspaper of yesterday was written that the result of the elections in turkish Cypress (KKTC) leave it up to Turkey to make the last but important decision concernig whether the KKTC will become a member of the European Union (EU) or not. What was not said, and what I want to add here is, that such a move increases the chance of Turkey to become as well a member state.

The foreign Minister Guel complains since a few weeks about the EU connecting the Cypress issue with the process of integration of Turkey to the EU. He might be right in doing so, but he should keep in mind that the so called Kurdish question will be asked - again and again.

I happen to read these days a book from Hasan Cemal (a well known journalist in Turkey) with the title: the Kurds. It would not be correct to label him a pro kurdish writer or even a follower of the PKK. He seems to be more of a liberal, modern, western and therefore Atatuerk orientated fellow-writer. It is known that the 7. accession paket which has been lately agreed upon in Ankara, includes the right to learn Kurdish. Up to now there has been only 1 such demand been accepted. The latter was the case in S. Urfa, where now Kurdisch can be learned in a private school. Since this news has been spread only once in so called right-wing newspapers (I did not have access to left-wing ones these days) is, I believe, a big question mark to be kept in mind concernig this issue. Reading in Hasan Cemals book gives enough reason to doubt about such changes having really taken place. But it is of course possible, because we are talking about not allowing to learn or teach a mother tongue within the frame of a school or the like. The spirit of seperating this human demand from terrorist activities (a connection prefered by the turkish military as H.Cemal reports) will even one day in places like Turkey become common sense.

Nevertheless, I wonder how the turkish army could let such happen - if it happened. The 7. accession paket for the EU limits the role of the military within daily politics, but this again could soon be prooved to be only another paper tiger I am afraid.

Nevertheless, Tayyip Erdogan has achieved something, for instance that Turkey seems to have become more fexible in issues such as Cypress or Kurdish rights - in comparison to the government before his reign. But on the other hand seems a new thread to amount in turkish daily politics, it is actually not so new, which Tayyip Erdogan my not get rid of, although he pretends or is reqally willing to, because of his background: islamic extremism. This must not be understood wrong. T. Erdogan is not - anymore some say - an islamic extremist, but such elements may put on the coat of disguise and have under the reign of T. Erdogan the chance to swim easier than ever before within the system to so called key positions and do their thing then and this way. This is what partly happens under T. Erdogan and Europe will have to watch more careful than before, because it should not surprise, when this government (AKP) of Turkey will give Cypress, will give Kurdish rights, just and only to enter Europe not alone and only for Turkey and the expected wealth and welfare, but as well for the - who knows - greater, which is for the sake of Islam. The latter, of course, is already present in Europe and, I blelieve, is longing for a firmer base, which could be provided by Turkey as a member of the union then. I wonder if Europe, which can not even decide on a for all more sensible constitution, will be able to face this slow but coming 'chance' on which T. Erdogan has to decide most probably no!